Our drive into Las Vegas, was quite different than what you usually hear. People often describe the change from dark desert to city lights as overwhelming. However, an approach from the east resulted in us seeing the city 20 miles before we actually got there.
“Is that Vegas?”
“Can’t be, its not big enough, and we’re still 20 miles out.”
“I don’t know, I think it is....”
Eventually it was established that the sea of golden light ahead was in fact Sin City. Several wrong turns later we were on Las Vegas Blvd., The Strip.
My jaw hit the floor. Never before had I seen such incredible lights, sounds and sights, all packed onto one street. New York’s Time Square has nothing on this place. I literally had trouble maintaining a safe distance from the cars in front because I was looking out the windows and up through the windscreen the whole time. You couldn’t have wiped the grins off our faces if you tried. Every 10 seconds one of us would hoot and shout pointing at some new fantastic neon discovery.
Hamish spotted the roller coaster on the side of New York New York and temporarily was transformed into a 7 year old. I soon followed and quickly did a U-turn. Before I knew it we were parked in some multi level car park. Do i have to pay for this? Is all our stuff safe just sitting here? Who cares, there’s a roller coaster!
Las Vegas casinos are something else. They are a mazes made up of slot machines, card tables and roulette wheels. The only people who seem to know where they are going are the cocktail waitresses, ever determined to pour more alcohol down more gamblers throats. An absolutely deadly combination of predator and environment.
We finally found our way to the roller coaster, paid an extortionate amount of money, and proceeded to laugh uncontrollably the entire way around the track. Definitely the right way to start our Las Vegas experience.
The place we had booked was outside the city quite a way so we had to drive through north Vegas and out towards Lake Powell. A few blocks off the strip and everything changes. Everything the hotels, casinos and showrooms chew up is spat out there. Drug addicts roam the streets and women showing too much skin whisper sweet nothings at you as you drive past the red lights. It is an ugly and frightening place.
After a glorious nights sleep in a real bed we headed off to see the hoover dam. Its quite impressive, but nothing like as cool as the bridge they are building opposite it. Yeah new bridge > Hoover Dam, its the truth, folks.
That night we smartened up a bit and wandered the Strip for several hours. Doing all the touristy things, the Bellagio fountains, looking at the fake friezes in the Venetian, and hunting for the ever elusive art collection, which turned out to be back at the Bellagio, next time... We saw a crew of African guys do an incredible circus routine at, surprise surprise, the Circus Circus.
Its all so incredible, so fake, yet so real. One truly has to see it to believe it all.
We shook hands that night and promised each other we would come back as soon as we were both 21...
With the daybreak we headed for Utah. A quick stop on the Nevada state line for a breakfast buffet at some casino ended up proving too much for us to stomach. We walked into the casino and it was like we were back in Vegas on the sunday night we got there. 10 in the morning, and here they were. People already drinking, on a tuesday, and pulling levers on slot machines like zombies in some kind of trace. The sight of it all was enough to blow ones mind and make them sick at the same time.
“...I’m done with Nevada”
For better or for worse, we saw it all and swiftly left it behind.
Thanks to our Canadian tour guide who texted me directions and info the whole time, much appreciated.
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